Talking Heads first appeared on the New York music scene as a trio in 1974. At the time, the band consisted only of Byrne and Frantz, and was initially called The Artistics. By 1975, the band had recorded a demo album for CBS Records and landed a gig opening for the Ramones at CBGB in June 1975, which was the first time the band used the name Talking Heads. The band was signed to Sire Records in late 1976 and the group released their first single, "Love → Building on Fire" in February 1977. In March 1977, the band added Jerry Harrison, formerly of Jonathan Richman's band The Modern Lovers.
Their first album, Talking Heads: 77 was released soon afterward and did not contain the earlier single, although it did include the underground singles Psycho Killer and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town. Despite being regulars at New York's legendary CBGB, the band only began to break through further with the landmark Brian Eno-produced, 1978 album More Songs About Buildings And Food, an album which continued in the same vein, but with a more accessible style, wittier lyrics, and ultimately better songs. It was a great critical hit with subject matter ranging from home movies to the art world. It also included their cover of Take Me To The River. On the following year's Fear Of Music the band started to dabble in African rhythms, notably on I Zimbra, and more straightforward pop styles, on Life During Wartime and Cities.
1980 brought the band's fourth and most innovative effort Remain In Light. Notable for the single Once In A Lifetime, which became an early MTV staple, Remain In Light saw the band experiment with ambient sounds, fugal structures, polyrhythms, and about everything under the sun to make the body groove. Following this, the group split with Brian Eno, enjoying greater commercial success with 1983's Speaking In Tongues. It took the musical innovations of its predecessor and refined them into pop songs, most notably Burning Down The House, Girlfriend Is Better and This Must Be The Place. This period was topped off with a live album, from Jonathan Demme's documentary, Stop Making Sense. The documentary, with its name taken from a line in Girlfriend Is Better, was a great success, and took their inimitable style to a wider audience.
1985's Little Creatures was an even bigger hit, and exhibited another stylistic shift for the band. It saw the punk styles of '77 almost completely abandoned for simple, three or four chord pop songs. The album produced the singles And She Was, and Road To Nowhere. The following two albums, True Stories and Naked, were both moderate successes, the former producing their biggest radio hits, Love For Sale and Wild Wild Life, and the latter focusing more on Latin influences with hits like (Nothing But) Flowers. After this, a long quiet period followed, with the band eventually officially announcing their break up in 1991. Since the split, Byrne continued his solo career and Weymoth and Frantz continued to record and tour as Tom Tom Club. Weymouth, Harrison and Frantz reunited for an album, "No Talking, Just Head", recorded under the name The Heads in 1996.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. The band reunited for a three song performance at the ceremony. Due to personality conflicts between Byrne and the other members, further reunions are unlikely.
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Memories Can't Wait
Talking Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No you don't remember anything at all
I'm sleeping, I'm flat on my back
Never woke up, had no regrets
There's a party in my mind
And I hope it never stops
There's a party up there all the time
Other people can go home
Everybody else can split
I'll be here all the time
No, I can never quit
Take a walk through the land of shadows
Take a walk through the peaceful meadows
Don't look so disappointed
It isn't what you hoped for, is it?
There's a party in my mind
And I hope it never stops
I'm stuck here in this seat
I might not stand up
Other people can go home
Other people they will split
I'll be here all the time
No, I can never quit
Everything is very quiet
Everyone has gone to sleep
I'm wide awake on memories
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
These memories can't wait
The song "Memories Can't Wait" by Talking Heads is a haunting, introspective reflection on the power of memories. The lyrics suggest the singer is in a dreamlike state, perhaps falling asleep, and the world around him fades away as he is consumed by memories that hold him captive.
The song opens with the question, "Do you remember anyone here?" which sets the tone for the rest of the song that finds the singer lost in thought amidst the memories that he can't seem to shake. The chorus repeats the line "There's a party in my mind, and I hope it never stops," suggesting that the memories are overwhelming the singer like an endless party where he is both guest and host.
The line "Everything is very quiet, everyone has gone to sleep" is a powerful image that underscores the idea that memories can be both comforting and lonely at the same time. The final repetition of the phrase "These memories can't wait" serves as a reminder that no matter how much we may try to forget, memories always find a way to resurface, often at the most unexpected times.
Overall, "Memories Can't Wait" is a deeply personal and introspective song that speaks to the universal experience of grappling with the power of memories, both good and bad.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember anyone here?
Do you recall any people or past events in your present state or have you forgotten everything entirely?
No you don't remember anything at all
You have no recollection of anything from the past.
I'm sleeping, I'm flat on my back
I am sleeping lying down, with no interruption of memories in that time.
Never woke up, had no regrets
After sleeping, I did not wake up with the regret of losing memories.
There's a party in my mind
There is a lively celebration of thoughts and memories in my mind.
And I hope it never stops
I desire for the joyous celebration in my mind to go on indefinitely.
There's a party up there all the time
An everlasting celebration occurs frequently in my mind.
And they'll party till they drop
The thoughts and reminiscences celebration will continue until the memory wears off.
Other people can go home
Other people are allowed to leave or depart.
Everybody else can split
All others can depart and fragment.
I'll be here all the time
I will remain present in this state of mind.
No, I can never quit
I can never discontinue thinking about the memories.
Take a walk through the land of shadows
Traverse the gloomy and murky paths of my recollections.
Take a walk through the peaceful meadows
Stroll through the serene and quiet fields of my recollections.
Don't look so disappointed
Please do not seem saddened by what you see.
It isn't what you hoped for, is it?
This is not what you anticipated, is it?
I'm stuck here in this seat
I am trapped in this place where I am thinking about memories.
I might not stand up
It is possible that I may not rise because I am thinking about the memories.
Everything is very quiet
Everything is silent and tranquil.
Everyone has gone to sleep
All people have dozed off into slumber.
I'm wide awake on memories
I am fully conscious and alert about my reminiscences.
These memories can't wait
These memories are too urgent and essential to ignore.
These memories can't wait
It is imperative that these memories be thought about immediately.
These memories can't wait
These memories cannot be overlooked or dismissed.
These memories can't wait
It is paramount that I muse over these memories.
These memories can't wait
These memories are critical and must be pondered over immediately.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE, JERRY HARRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind